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There are 23.36 million properties in England and Wales with 64% being owner occupied and 36% being rented either from a private landlord, local authority or housing association.

Over nine out of ten of those English and Welsh owner-occupied properties are a whole house or bungalow. Now, most people would assume they would be freehold – however, of those renting nearly half of rental properties, 44% to be precise, lived in other leasehold apartments and flats.

It might be wise to quickly explain the difference between freehold and leasehold. When someone owns the freehold of a property they own it outright, including the land it is built on, whilst with a leasehold property the leaseholder owns the property for the length of their lease agreement. Leaseholders must pay the person who owns land (the freeholder) ground rent and other fees. When the leasehold ends, ownership returns to the freeholder although the leaseholder can extend the lease or they can buy the freeholder out, but there are rules and regulations with regards doing that.

Therefore, it would be safe to assume that houses are freehold and flats are leasehold .. wouldn’t it? Not necessarily! Most houses are freehold but some might be leasehold – usually through shared-ownership schemes – but more and more new homes builders are selling houses on a leasehold as well. The protection of the law afforded to leaseholders who own a flat is massive, but sadly lacking to leasehold houses sold privately.

Looking specifically at the figures for Salisbury, at the last count in SP1 and SP2 there were 24,181 properties. Since 1995, 21,933 properties in SP1 and SP2 have changed hands and have been sold. Looking further at those 21,933 transactions in SP1 and SP2 since 1995, using data from Land Registry and solicitors practice My-Home-Move, 11.21% have been leasehold (lower than the national average of 15%).

However, I am concerned about a few new homes builders selling new houses (not flats – houses) as leasehold. There has been a growing (yet small) trend for new-build houses to be sold as leasehold in recent years. While not all house builders use this model, those that do maintain it helps make developments financially viable.

The issue comes when builders sell the freehold separately to an investment company without informing the lease holder – which they are legally allowed to do without telling the leaseholder. In England and Wales, the “right of first refusal” to buy the freehold is written in law to leaseholders of flats i.e. the freeholder must offer it to the leaseholders of all the flats of the building first), but not leaseholders of houses.

.. and this is the point I am trying to get across. If you are buying a new home and it’s a house (i.e. not a flat) – please check very carefully indeed whether its freehold or leasehold. If it is a leasehold, whilst you do have rights, they are not as strong as for those people buying a leasehold flat. I appreciate I am only talking about a very small percentage of the property market, but potentially this could end up costing thousands of pounds to those affected.

In the words of connells, the managing agent, ‘the property would be an ideal first time buy or buy to let investment.’

Accomodation comprises large Living/Dining Room, seperate fitted Kitchen, two Double Bedrooms and seperate family Bathroom. The property is conveniently situated on the outskirts of Wilton with access to Salisbury, Amesbury, Devizes and Shaftesbury and benefits from communal Parking. I would estimate a potential rent of around £700pcm, meaning a potential yield of 6.7%! http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-67232354.html

According to the Land Registry’s latest House Price Index for Salisbury and the surrounding locality, the value of apartments/flats are rising at a faster rate than terraced/town houses, semi-detached properties and even detached property.

Values of apartments in Salisbury have increased by 9.07% over the past year, which is proportionally 15% more than the Salisbury average rise of 7.87%. The last time flats/apartments in Salisbury out performed all the other types of property, by such a gulf, was back in the spring of 2003. For comparison, the other property types performed as follows ..

Detached homes rose by 7.88%

Semi-detached homes rose by 7.69%

Terraced/Town-Houses rose by 7.5%

This moderately increasing rate of property value growth is opportune – but no one should confuse it with a strong and vigorous healthy Salisbury property market. Instead, it is somewhat an indicator of the long-lasting lack of property on the market. In fact, I have spoken about the lack of homes for sale in Salisbury on a number of occasions in my Salisbury Property Blog and whilst it isn’t as bad as it was 12 months ago – choice is quite limited for buyers.

The average property value in Salisbury now stands at £355,100.

When split down into property types ..

Salisbury Apartments at £206,800

Salisbury Detached at £494,600

Salisbury Semi-Detached at £290,800

Salisbury Terraced/Town-House at £260,800

So why have Salisbury apartments performed so well, and is it just a Salisbury thing? When I scrutinised the figures for the rest of the UK, it appears that apartments are pacemakers in the clear majority of the country. Of the 379 local authority areas in the UK, the value of apartments is rising faster than detached, semi-detached and terraced houses in 320 of them.

So, should Salisbury apartment owners be getting out the Champagne? Well, I would keep it on ice as the Land Registry figures are notorious for short term fluctuations. It’s hard to have faith in the fact that Salisbury house values rose rapidly last month given that, in the last six months, the Land Registry has frequently made downward revisions to their first published House Price Index figures.

Thankfully, the bigger picture from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) stated that home buying activity last month was up 2% over the same month in 2016 – not bad as we have had the Autumn, Winter and now Spring since Brexit. The CML stated first time buyer’s levels of affordability was being squeezed and that the average amount borrowed by those first-time buyers dropped slightly last month, but the overall amount borrowed (by all buyers) was an impressive 12% higher than the same month in 2016.

So, what next for the Salisbury Property market? I believe the uplift in the values of apartments is a short-term blip. The real issue is with the way wage growth might not keep up with inflation as the effects of 2016 exchange rate sucks in inflation (meaning real wage growth stagnates). This will mean buyer demand growth will be curtailed and with property values already so full, I believe a renewed hastening in house price growth is unlikely.

I believe we are starting to return to the housing market we saw in the mid 1990’s, Steady demand, steady supply – nothing silly when it comes to house price growth. Therefore, I believe, with what is happening around us – this isn’t a bad thing at all. HMS Salisbury Property Market…. “Nice and steady as she goes”, says the Captain

In the words of Whites, the advertising agent, ‘The property would make an ideal purchase for a first time or investment buyer.’

This cracking little house, situated in an ideal City Centre location provides well proportioned accomodation comprising Lounge/Diner, Kitchen, two double Bedrooms and family Bathroom. There is also a small rear courtyard Garden. In my opinion, the property would benefit from some cosmetic updating throughout to make the property more attractive to potential tenants.

This property is currently tenanted at a figure of £715pcm, however I believe that with the above improvements made, if you were to re-advertise the property you could achieve a figure of £775, conveniently maximising your yield to 5%. Of course the fact that the property is already tenanted makes this property more attractive to investment purchasers as it would mean income from day of completion. Give Whites a call to arrange a viewing!http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-60560281.html

It would appear that the BTL market has gone quiet, however I still managed to find this fantastic BTL opportunity!

This well presented ground floor apartment, situated in the highly desirable area of Harnham, is currently on the market with Carter & May. Accomodation comprises Lounge/Diner, Kitchen, Master Bedroom, further double Bedroom and family Bathroom. There is also the added bonus of an off-road Parking space. I have no doubt with it’s location and well presented accomodation that this flat will rent incredibly well! I would estimate a monthly rental value of around £795pcm, which would mean a potential yield of 5.3%!

If you would like our honest opinion on the rental potential of a property, be it your own property, one you are purchasing or one you have seen advertised, give the office a call, we would be more than happy to discuss this with you, or alternatively attend any viewings with you.http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-48959286.html

This immaculately presented detached three bedroom family home situated within the Fugglestone Red area of Salisbury is currently on the market with Hamptons of Salisbury. The accomodation comprises Living Room, Kitchen/Diner, two doubled Bedrooms, one further single Bedroom along with Family Bathroom, front and rear Gardens, detached single Garage and off-road Parking. In the words of the advertising agent, ‘This versatile home has been comprehensively modernised by the current vendors to provide flexible modern open plan living accommodation presented to an impeccable standard throughout,’ and I must say I have to agree! Whilst this property doesn’t necessarily fit into my usual 5% yield and upwards bracket, with a potential rent of £1000pcm, you could still be looking at a healthy 4.4% return! Alternatively, this property would make a fantastic family home in an increasingly popular area of Salisbury. What you lack in yield here could potentially be made up for in Capital Growth, with the last almost identical property selling in just September last year for a figure of £240,000! http://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatching.html?prop=56077052&sale=88576683&country=england

Attention all first time buyers and Investors, this may just be the property for you!

Currently advertised with Castles of Ludgershall is this fantastic three bedroom terraced property offering well proportioned accomodation comprising Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen, three Bedrooms and family Bathroom.There is also a lovely enclosed rear Garden. Whilst the accomodation is in good order, it may require some cosmetic updating throughout.

Castle’s are also advertising this property to let for a figure of £795pcm. At this figure, you could be looking to generate a potential yield of around 5.9%! This property, offered with vacant posession, would also make a cracking first home with plenty of room to grow into it over the years!

A little Gem situated on the Ring Road, the perfect starter home or BTL opportunity!

Currently advertised with E-Dwelling, this two bedroom property is ideally situated for those requiring direct access to the City Centre and Mainline Station. The accomodation is well presented throughout, comprising open plan Living/Dining Room, Kitchen, two good sized Bedrooms and family Bathroom along with a usable loft space with velux window and well proportioned rear garden.

This cracking one bedroom flat, currently on the market with Fox & Sons, is ideally situated within walking distance of Salisbury City Centre and Mainline Station. Accomodation is modern and well presented, comprising Living room, Kitchen, double Bedroom and Bathroom. There is also the added bonus of an allocated Parking Space.

The property has 90 years remaining on a 99 year lease, with ground rent to the amount of £60 per annum and £220 service charge. Of course these costs will effect any potential yield. We have let a number of the flats within the same block, they prove to be pretty popular! I would estimate a rental value of around £575pcm, meaning a potential yield of around 5.7%!

As more babies are being born to Salisbury and Wiltshire mothers, I believe this increase will continue to add pressure to the over stretched Salisbury property market and materially affect the local property market in the years to come.

On the back of eight years of ever incremental increasing birth rates, a significant 2.53 babies were born for every new home that was built in the Wiltshire council area in 2016. I believe this has and will continue to exacerbate the Salisbury housing shortage, meaning demand for housing, be it to buy or rent, has remained high. The high birth rate has meant Salisbury rents and Salisbury property prices have remained resilient – even with the challenges the economy has felt over the last eight years, and they will continue to remain high in the years to come.

This ratio of births to new homes has reach one its highest levels since 1945 (back in the early 1970’s the average was only one and a half births for every household built). Looking at the local birth rates, the latest figures show we in the Wiltshire council area had an average of 62 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44. Interestingly, the national average is 61.7 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 and for the region its 60 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44.

The number of births from Salisbury and Wiltshire women between the ages of 20 to 29 are much higher than the national average, but those between 35 and 44 were lower. However overall, the birth rate is still increasing, and when that fact is combined with the ever-increasing life expectancy in the Salisbury area, the high levels of net migration into the area over the last 14 years (which I talked about in the previous articles) and the higher predominance of single person households … this can only mean one thing … a huge increase in the need for housing in Salisbury.

Again, in a previous article a while back, I said more and more people are having children as tenants because they feel safe in rented accommodation. Renting is becoming a choice for Salisbury people.

The planners and Politian’s of our local authority, central Government and people as a whole need to recognise that with individuals living longer, people having more children and whilst divorce rates have dropped recently, they are still at a relatively high level (meaning one household becomes two households) … demand for property is simply outstripping supply.

The simple fact is more Salisbury properties need to be built

… be that for buying or renting.

Only 1.1% of the Country is built on by houses. Now I am not suggesting we build tower blocks in the middle of the Cotswolds, but the obsession of not building on any green belt land should be carefully re-considered.

Yes, we need to build on brownfield sites first, but there aren’t hundreds of acres of brownfield sites in Salisbury, and what brownfield sites there are, building on them can only work with complementary public investment. Many such sites are contaminated and aren’t financially viable to develop, so unless the Government put their hand in their pocket, they will never be built on.

I am not saying we should crudely go ‘hell for leather’ building on our Green Belt, but we need a new approach to enable some parts of the countryside to be regarded more positively by local authorities, politicians and communities and allow considered and empathetic development. Society in the UK needs to look at the green belts outside their leisure and visual appeal, and assess how they can help to shape the way we live in the most even-handed way. Interesting times!

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Welcome

Firstly, thank you for visiting The Salisbury Property Blog. I hope you find it both interesting and informative. I follow the buy-to-let market in Salisbury, you'll find tips, guidance, and analysis that relates specifically to Salisbury and you'll also find properties from all the estate agents in the town on here that may make decent investments.

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A little about me

I’m the Owner of Martin & Co in Salisbury, and if you’re thinking of buying a property to let in Salisbury I’m happy to offer a second opinion.

I’ve lived in the area for nearly 20 years and as a result I’m very familiar with South Wiltshire, particularly the Amesbury area. I started my own portfolio as an accidental Landlord in 1994 however in more recent years built upon this, becoming a commercial and residential, landlord in the Salisbury and Wiltshire area. I have been involved in my own property refurbishments and developed a keen eye for detail. I enjoy working with clients in the development of new rental opportunities and you can be assured of a friendly, reliable service at all times.